Hyderabad as Common Capital: AP High Court comes with judgment

The Andhra Pradesh High Court recently dismissed a petition filed by P Anil Kumar of Ibrahimpatnam in NTR district, which sought directions to extend Hyderabad as the common capital of both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for another 10 years.

The division bench, led by Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice R Raghunandan Rao, clarified that the court has limitations and cannot direct Parliament to enact or modify laws.

This comes after YSRC senior leader Y.V. Subba Reddy stirred controversy by announcing his party’s intention to push for extending Hyderabad’s common capital status for a few more years. Hyderabad was designated as the common capital of both states for a decade under the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, a period set to expire in June this year. The demand was also echoed by AP minister Ambati Rambabu, who urged the Centre to consider the extension.

Speaking to the media, Subba Reddy stated that the YSRC would raise the issue in the Lok Sabha following the general elections. While the rationale behind the demand was not entirely clear, Subba Reddy argued that the Centre should entertain the request until Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy completes the shift of the capital to Visakhapatnam.

Jagan Mohan Reddy had previously declared his decision against continuing the construction of the grandiose Amaravati capital and instead opted to utilize the funds for the welfare of the underprivileged. However, his choice to relocate the capital to Vizag faced opposition.

However opposition parties made fun of YSRCP demands and even Telangana leaders of various political parties ridiculed the demand. While TDP said that Jagan wasted time, by stalling Amaravathi from becoming the capital of the state while BJP blamed Chandra Babu and Jagan for the delay of capital formation. Telangana leaders said Hyderabad as common capital for ten years was never implemented as per the law.